Yo-Kai Watch 2 Preview

It hasn’t even been a year since the original Yo-Kai Watch came out in the United States, but we’re already getting the sequel on September 30, 2016. Like the Pokémon games, this iteration will come in two different flavors, each with its own set of characters to trap. At E3 the Treehouse team played some of the game live and showed off some of the mechanics. This game has been incredibly popular in Japan, selling over 3 million copies.

Check out the screens and video shown off at E3. Expect much more promotion from Nintendo as this title approaches.

Yo-Kai Watch 2 (3DS)

[Original Story]:

Mark your calendars! The Yo-Kai invasion continues on September 30, 2016 with LEVEL-5’s sequel to one of the most popular series in Japan. The original Yo-Kai Watch launched in North America last November. While it wasn’t a smashing success like seen overseas, it did capture the imaginations of thousands of gamers across the country. By all accounts Yo-Kai Watch 2 is where the series really found its groove, so this one definitely has my attention.

This time around Yo-Kai Watch 2 takes a page from the Pokémon playbook and will release with two different packages: Yo-Kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits and Yo-Kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls. There will be over 100 new Yo-Kai to find, new areas to explore, and the ability to travel back in time.

There will be a highly coordinated rollout this fall. Hasbro will add new toys to Yo-Kai Watch line, including an all-new watch that can project images, new medals, plush toys, and even a trading card game. Disney XD will air the second season of the Yo-Kai Watch animated TV show, which will hit the airwaves during the summer.

If this were a normal year this kind of announcement would have been made during a Nintendo Direct, or given our proximity to E3, during Nintendo’s usual Digital Event, with hands-on demos on the show floor. Instead, Nintendo has seemingly gone off the deep end and will only be showing Zelda for Wii U during its live streaming and it will be the only game playable at E3. I still maintain it’s a risky move that puts its entire lineup of games for 3DS at risk of being overlooked by mainstream news sites as well as dedicated gaming outlets. We’ll find out how things shake down in under a month.

The Yo-kai phenomenon continues in 2016. The U.S. has seen the launches of the YO-KAI WATCH video game for Nintendo 3DS, a line of Hasbro toys and games, a top-rated animated series that airs on Disney XD and the mobile game sensation YO-KAI WATCH Wibble Wobble all in the last six months. The world of Yo-kai continues to grow as new video games, toys and shows make their way stateside this year.

All things Yo-kai continue on Sept. 30 when YO-KAI WATCH 2 launches in the U.S. exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. Already a huge hit in Japan, the sequel to the first smash hit, which is once again developed by LEVEL-5, offers the same deep RPG gameplay and wacky adventures as the first game. The new adventure also offers many new areas to explore outside of Springdale, more than 100 new Yo-kai, a new-and-improved in-game Yo-kai Watch and even the ability to travel back in time! YO-KAI WATCH 2 will also launch with two versions, YO-KAI WATCH 2: Bony Spirits and YO-KAI WATCH 2: Fleshy Souls, each featuring rare Yo-kai that can only be found in their respective games.

“After being such a massive sensation in Japan, it’s great to see the U.S. start to embrace the mischievous and lovable Yo-kai,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “We’re excited to continue bringing fun Yo-kai experiences stateside this year.”

To expand the Yo-kai brand, Hasbro will add new items to its YO-KAI WATCH line this fall. New toys include the YO-KAI WATCH MODEL ZERO, designed to look like the watch worn by Nate in Season 2 of the animated series. The watch includes YO-MOTION TECHNOLOGY that brings Yo-kai characters to life in a new way. Fans can insert a YO-MOTION YO-KAI MEDAL into the watch and see a projected animation of that character. Hasbro will also release a new series of collectible YO-MOTION YO-KAI MEDALS, which are compatible with the new watch, as well as custom YO-KAI WATCH accessories, large plush toys and electronic figures. Additionally, fans will be able to collect and trade their favorite YO-KAI WATCHcharacters in a new way with the YO-KAI WATCH Trading Card Game.

Disney XD has acquired a second season of the YO-KAI WATCH animated TV show, which will premiere this summer. This season, join Nate, Whisper and Jibanyan as they get the new Yo-kai Watch Model Zero. But just because he has a new watch, that doesn’t mean Nate’s life will get any easier. Season 2 has more Yo-kai, more miniseries, more episodes and, most importantly, more laughs! Tune in to see how a new cast of Yo-kai interrupts Nate’s normal life in unexpected and hilarious ways. Fans who missed the first season can catch up before the second season starts by picking up the DVD of YO-KAI WATCH – Season 1 in stores late 2016 or by streaming the show on Netflix now. Fans can also catch the YO-KAI WATCH manga series from VIZ Media (Volume 5 debuts this month).

Finally, all of your favorite Yo-kai have wobbled into a hit mobile app called YO-KAI WATCH Wibble Wobble. This Top Ten app on the iTunes store brings the fun of Yo-kai characters into smart devices with a puzzle-game twist. With new events coming monthly, this game will continue to grow bigger and better.

The original YO-KAI WATCH video game introduced people in the U.S. to the mysterious Yo-kai. In Japan, these invisible beings – not ghosts or spirits … just Yo-kai! – are steeped in folklore and based on common concerns that everyday citizens have. If a child misplaces homework or an adult can’t stop babbling at a work meeting, for instance, it’s probably the work of a troublesome Yo-kai.

Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

About YO-KAI WATCH™: YO-KAI WATCH™ is a cross-media universe, following the hilarious misadventures of an average human boy and his involvement with the mischievous Yo-kai (invisible beings that are the cause of life’s daily annoyances) all around him. Our young hero obtains a special watch, empowering him to discover and summon the mysterious Yo-kai, befriend them and then work together to solve everyday problems… problems that are often caused by other trouble-making Yo-kai! Discover the adventures of Nate and his Yo-kai companions via video game, animated comedy series, comics, toys and video on demand. View full episodes on the official YO-KAI WATCH YouTube channel — www.youtube.com/c/YOKAIWATCH — and visit the official website at www.Yo-Kai-World.com. Other links include: https://twitter.com/YokaiWatchNews, https://www.facebook.com/YokaiWatchOfficial and https://www.instagram.com/yokaiwatchofficial.